When did Oleg the Wise take control of Novgorod and Kiev?
Oleg the Wise took control of Novgorod in 879 after the death of Rurik. He moved south along the Dnieper river to seize power in Kiev during 881 and 882.
Questions about Oleg the Wise
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened when Oleg the Wise attacked Constantinople in 907?
Oleg the Wise launched a massive military expedition against Constantinople in 907 that resulted in the Treaty of 911. His forces used ships modified with wheels to drag them onto land for battle while Patrikios John Rodin commanded fire-fighting ships that stopped raiders from plundering the Thracian coast.
Why do historians disagree on the death date of Oleg the Wise?
Historians disagree on the death date of Oleg the Wise because the Primary Chronicle states he died in 912 while the Novgorod First Chronicle places his passing in 922. The Schechter Letter describes activities of a Rus warlord active into the 940s which contradicts the traditional timeline stating Oleg died in 912.
How did Oleg the Wise die according to the Primary Chronicle?
Oleg the Wise died from a snake bite after touching the skull of his dead horse as predicted by pagan priests. A snake slithered from the skull when he touched it with his boot and the bite killed him fulfilling the ancient prediction.
Who was Helgu-Oleg mentioned in the Schechter Letter?
The Schechter Letter mentions HLGW operating during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Romanus I and describes activities of a Rus warlord active into the 940s. Georgy Vernadsky identified the Helgu-Oleg figure with Igor's otherwise anonymous eldest son whose widow Predslava appears in treaties from 944.